Compare towns
Alstead vs Mapleton vs Sullivan vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Alstead | Mapleton | Sullivan | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,884 |
1,246Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$883±$114 38% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sullivan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 24 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.